Suit-case lock.



PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

0. J. SALVIOLO. SUIT CASE LOCK. APPLICATION-FILED SEPT; s. i905.

I NVENTOR: Car/224726 By Ins @652 WITNESSES:

(1624214 024; Adorney 9 i r M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUIT-CASE LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1906.

Application filed September 6. 1905. Serial No. 277,237-

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARMINE J. SALvroLo, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suit-Case Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suit-case locks such as comprise a hasp member adapted to fit into a casing having a slidable locking member to engage the hasp and a finger-piece or button located on the exterior of the casing to move the locking member out of en gagement with the hasp member when it is desired to unlock the suit-case.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the construction of such locks by providing means interposed between the hasp member and the slidable lock member to hold the locking member in retracted position after it has been moved out of engage ment with the hasp member by manipulating the finger-piece, whereby the withdrawal of the hasp member from the casing containing the locking member is facilitated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed as a practical embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is an eXte rior view of a lock constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an inside view thereof, showing the locking member in engagement with the hasp member. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the locking member held in retracted position, out of engagement with the hasp member, by means of the improvements of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a detail view of an ordinary and well-known form of base-plate having a key-operated locking device of the usual construction for holding the locking member securely in engagement With the hasp member. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating a convenient means for securing in position the retainingspring for holding the locking member in retracted position. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a slightly-modified construction. Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, showing a second modified construction.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The reference-numeral 1 indicates a hasp member, and the reference-numeral 2 indicates a casing having abase-plate 3. Mounted in the casing 2 is a slidable locking member 4, having a pin 5, which projects through a slot 6 in the casing 2 and is provided with a button or finger piece 7. The locking member 4 is adapted to be thrown into engagement with the hasp member 1 by means of a coil-spring 8. The lockin member 4 preferably is adapted to be held in engagement with the hasp member 1 by means of a key-operated locking device 9.

The parts thus far described may be of any ordinary and well-known construction. As previously indicated, the present invention resides particularly in the provision of automatic means for holding the locking member 4 in the retracted position illustrated by Fig. 3 after it has been moved out of engagement with the hasp member 1 by manipulating the finger-piece 7 in the usual manner. It will be apparent from the following description, in connection with the drawings, that this result can be accomplished in a number of different ways. The preferred means by which I accomplish the desired end comprises a flat spring 10, secured to one or the other of the members 1 and 4. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the spring 10 preferably is riveted to the locking member 4 by stamping out a portion of said locking member, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. The free end of the spring 10 is adapted to engage a notch 11, formed in the hasp member 1. As shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, when the locking member 4 is retracted by the manipulation of the finger-piece 7 the spring 10 snaps into the notch 11 and serves to hold the locking member 4 in retracted position until the hasp member is withdrawn from engagement with the casing 2.

In the modified construction illustrated by Fig. 6 the spring 10 is arranged upon the side of the locking member 4 and is formed with a bent end 12, adapted to engage a notch 11, formed in the side of the hasp member 1, as shown.

In the modified construction illustrated by Fig. 7 the arrangement is practically the same as that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the only diflerence being that the spring 10 is secured to the hasp member 1 and the notch 1 1 is formed in the locking member 4.

IIO

While the hasp member 1 may be of any suitable form and construction, said member preferably is stamped from a single piece of sheet metal, so as to form a rigid hasp upon a suit-case, as distinguished from the pivoted hasp which is commonly in use.

The improvements of this invention are strong, simple, durable, and inexpensive in construction, as well as thoroughly eflicient in operation.

Changes in the precise embodiment of invention illustrated and described may be made Within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A look of the type described comprising a casing, a hasp member adapted for en trance into the casing, a movable locking member disposed in the latter and designed for locking engagement with the hasp, a spring for moving the locking member to engaging position, a finger-piece for retracting the locking member from engagement with the hasp, one of said parts being provided with a shoulder, and a spring carried by the other of said parts and adapted for engagement with the shoulder to maintain the locking member in retracted position until the hasp member is withdrawn from the casing.

2. A suit-case lock comprising a rigid hasp member formed with a shoulder, a casing, a slidable locking member in the casing adapted to engage the hasp, a spring for advancing the locking member, a finger-piece for retracting the locking member, and a spring secured to the locking member and adapted to engage the shoulder of the hasp member to hold the locking member in retracted posi tion until the hasp member is withdrawn from the casing.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARMINE J. SALVIOLO.

Witnesses W. H. CLARKE, H. G. Hosn. 

